With Derrick Rose sidelined with a groin injury, someone needed to step in and fill the veteran guard's spot in the starting lineup.

In Friday night's 118-96 loss to the Heat at the United Center, that someone was Justin Holiday starting for the first time in his ninth game with the Bulls since being acquired in a trade with the Hawks for Kirk Hinrich.

"Justin really has competed defensively (and) has made good, simple plays on offense," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said beforehand. "He has been a pleasant surprise. We didn't have a lot of film on him (because) he wasn't getting many minutes. He competes, he gets after it."

Hoiberg's previous option with Rose out had been Tony Snell, but against the Heat the coach went a different direction.

"Tony will get his opportunity, there's no doubt about it," Hoiberg said. "Tony has been out of the lineup and gone back in and played his way back into the lineup."

Holiday finished with 14 points in 38 minutes while Snell added five in garbage time while playing 10 minutes overall.

Not yet:Jimmy Butler missed his third consecutive game with a left knee strain but appears to be nearing a return as he went through what Hoiberg deemed "a really good workout (Friday)."

"The next couple of days are very important to see where we are with Jimmy," Hoiberg said. "Once he gets back, hopefully we'll have him the rest of the season."

Return of Jo:Joakim Noah has rejoined the Bulls while he rehabilitates his shoulder from Jan. 19 surgery and was on the bench during Friday's game. Hoiberg confirmed that Noah, who had been in New York, will not play again this season but welcomed the veteran big man's presence.

"Jo is one of those guys who lights up the room," Hoiberg said. "Everybody who saw him got a big hug from Jo. He has so much energy."

Hoiberg said Noah will remain with the Bulls for the rest of the season but won't travel with the team.

"He got the sling off last week (and) he's starting to up his activity a little bit with movement in that shoulder," Hoiberg said. "He's pretty skinny in that one arm because he hasn't been able to do much."

A version of this article appeared in print on March 12, 2016, in the Sports section of the Chicago Tribune with the headline "Holiday earns first start - Hoiberg calls newest acquisition `a pleasant surprise' as Rose sits" —
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